The Supreme Court has today issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Sahara chief Subrata Roy for not turning up in court, rejecting senior counsel Ram Jethamalani’s arguments that Roy was aiding his ill mother.

A medical certificate, issued by Sahara Hospital, and the “factual position indicated therein does not solicit the exemption sought”, the bench presided over by Justice KS Radhakrishnan said today in its order [download order (PDF)]:

Since, we have already declined to grant exemption from personal presence of alleged contemnor No.5 on February 25, 2014, we find no reason to accede to the renewal of the request made today.

Accordingly, we issue non-bailable warrants of arrest qua Mr. Subrata Roy Sahara, alleged contemnor No.5.

He shall be arrested and produced before this Court on March 04, 2014 at 2.00 p.m.

Sahara is under fire for not refunding Rs 20,000 crore of investors’ money that the Supreme Court ordered the company to release.